Production of hydrogen



April 28, 1931. D. TYRER PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN Filed Jan. 21, 1930 MOLTEN IRON Patented Apr. 28, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANIEL OF NORTON-ON-TEES, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO IMPERIAL CNEBHOAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED, OI! LONDON, ENGLAND, A. BRITISH rnonncrron or HYDROGEN Application filed January 8]., 1980, Serial 80,422,448, and in Great Britain January 25, 1929.

This invention relates to the reduction of hydrogen from methane or met ane containing gases.

It is known that when methane is heated to 1000 C. or over it is dissociated into its elements. Also it is known that by the separate combustion of the dissociated carbon sufii cient heat can be obtained for the requirements of the reaction. One of the difiiculties of carrying out this process is to separate the carbon at the point where it is desired subsequently to burn it; there is a tendency for much of the'carbon to be carried out of the decomposing chamber in the form of dust. 5 It is the object of the present invention to overcome this diificulty and at the same time to provide a more advantageous method of carrying out the process.

According to the invention we bring the 2 methane or methane containing gas into contact with molten iron. This has the property of dissolving and thus fixing the carbon.

Accordin to a further featureof the invention we low air or other oxygen containing gas through the solution of carbon in iron thus obtained, when the dissolvedcarbon is oxidized and at the same time produces enough heat to keep the iron molten and to dissociate the methane. Preferably secondary air is supplied to the, space above the molten iron to burn any carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.

The entering gases are preferably preheated, it may be by heat exchange with'the combustion gases.

When the gases contain a high percentage of methane the quantity of carbon formed will, on combustion with air, furnish more heat than is re uired to decompose the methane. The surp us heat may then be utilized by introducing some steam together with the methane containing gas.

The process may be worked continuously as.

follows The vessel containing the molten iron is divided into two parts by a partition wall, which by dipping just below the surface of the molten metal, completely separates the two aseous zones, but leaves the iron free to circulate v between the two sections.

partly below, partly above the surface of Methane containing gas is blown in on one side of the'partition and the oxidizing air on the other side.

The oxidizing air is most suitably admitted 55 the molten ironin order to ensure complete combustion of the carbon to carbon dioxide.

The gases may be blown in tangentially so as to cause the iron to circulate.

The relative ratio of gas and air is adjusted so as to keep the carbon content of the iron below saturation point. The temperature 0 the iron may be from 1200-1300 C.

The molteniron may contain manganese (to increase the solubility of the carbon) or nickel or other alloying metal which is known to catalyze the methane dissociation.

Steam may be added to the methane if desired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which represents diagrammatically in longitudinal section one form of apparatus suitable for carrying the process into efi'ect. Molten iron 2'is contained in the vessel 1' (which may be constructed of 7 the usual materials used for making steel furnaces). A partition 3 divides the vessel up into compartments 4 and 5.

Hydrocarbon gas is blown in through the pipe 6 into the molten iron and the hydrogen escapes from the compartment 4 by the pipe 7. The air enters by pipe 8. Part of the air passes through a valve 9 direct into the compartment 5 where it oxidizes the carbon monoxide present in the blow gases. The 35 .remainder of the air passes down pipe 8 and into the iron. The burnt blow gases leave the apparatus by pipe 10.,

I declare that what I claim is:

1.'Process of producing hydrogen which consists in decomposing hydrocarbon gases by bringing them into contact at a high temperature with. a molten metalcapable of dissolving carbon, and then burning out the carbon from said metal by means of a gas containing oxygen.

2. Continuous process of producing hydrogen which comprises introducing a gas-, eons hydrocarbon and a gas eontainmg oxy- 100 gen into separate portions of a body of molten metal capable of dissolv'in carbon.

3. The process as claimed in c aim 2 in which the gases are blown in tan entially to cause the molten metal to circu ate.

4. The process of producing hydrogen which consists in decomposing hydrocarbon gases by bringing them into contact with molten iron and then blowing said iron with a gas containing oxygen.

5. The process of producing hydrogen which consists in decomposing hydrocarbon gases by bringing them into contact with molten llOIl and an alloying metal and then blowing said iron with a gas containing oxy- 6. The process of producing hydro en which consists in decomposing hydrocar on gases by bringing them into contact with molten Iron, and manganese and then blowin said iron with a gas containin oxygen.

The rocess of producing ydrogen which conslsts in decomposing hydrocarbons gases and steam by bringing them into contact with molten iron, and then blowing said iron f. with a gas containin oxygen.

' In witness whereo I have hereunto signed my name this 9th dayof January, 1930. I

DANIEL TYRER. 

